December 19, 2013 – CSR ( http://www.csr.com ), a global provider of innovative semiconductor ICs and software solutions for location awareness, multimedia, and cloud connectivity, announced today the SIG certification of the first Bluetooth dual-mode and single-mode solutions compliant with the Bluetooth® 4.1 specification. The Bluetooth 4.1 specification, announced last week by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), is set to significantly enhance the flexibility of standard Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart communication.

Through the new Bluetooth 4.1 standard, related companies have been able to design products that enable the implementation of safe and versatile wearable devices, as well as simultaneous communication between sensor devices or between sensor devices and multiple Bluetooth hubs.

Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of the CSR Business Group, stated, “Bluetooth innovation is ingrained in our DNA. Since supplying the industry’s first single-chip Bluetooth solution, CSR has consistently reaffirmed its contribution to Bluetooth technology to the market by introducing the most advanced Bluetooth technologies. As a member of the SIG’s Core Specification Working Group, CSR has played a key role in the development of the Bluetooth 4.1 specification, and as one of the first solution developers to offer a Bluetooth 4.1-enabled solution, we will further dedicate ourselves to supporting updates to this specification.”

CSR plans to include all major enhancements of the Bluetooth 4.1 standard in its upcoming connectivity platforms, ranging from single-mode low-power and wireless audio platforms to discrete connectivity products. Developers will be able to enter emerging markets with products equipped with the latest Bluetooth features using CSR's connectivity platforms.

The features included in the new Bluetooth 4.1 standard are as follows.

1. Security has been enhanced by supporting AES encryption. This has enabled targeting new markets in government, medical, and financial application fields that require a high level of security.

2. It becomes possible to control audio products such as headsets, speakers, and soundbars with a Bluetooth Smart dedicated remote or app while simultaneously streaming audio files from a separate device.

“Since the advent of Bluetooth Smart, apps utilizing Bluetooth technology have evolved beyond transmitting contacts, messages, and audio to interoperating with a new ecosystem of accessory devices such as the Nike FuelBand SE and Samsung Galaxy Gear,” said Murray, Senior Vice President. “According to market research firm IHS (formerly DisplayBank), shipments of wearable devices are expected to reach 210 million units in 2018. The Bluetooth 4.1 standard will serve as a ‘key’ to expanding new consumer experiences by supporting these devices to communicate intelligently with each other as well as simultaneously with hub devices.”

In addition, Senior Vice President Murray said, “For example, you can imagine a user scenario where a person’s pulse, respiration, and body temperature can be checked on exercise equipment monitors, sports watches, smartphones, televisions, etc. Consumers can use these functions simply and easily through CSR’s Bluetooth 4.1-based platform.”

All features of the Bluetooth 4.1 standard can be found on the official Bluetooth SIG website.